Time period shown: Cretaceous

About this image: "When the South Atlantic Ocean was young, sea
monsters ruled it.

Some of their bones have turned up along the
coast of West Africa and are on exhibit at the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
They tell a story of the bloody birth of an
ocean.

The fossils of giant swimming reptiles
called mosasaurs have been found in the rocky
cliffs of Angola, overlooking the Atlantic.
It's not a country known for fossils. Few
scientists have looked there — half a century
of civil war made it too dangerous. But
geologically, Angola is special.

Did you know?
When you visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, be sure to check out Karen's immersive animation of the Cretaceous South Atlantic. Her three-minute projected video features the "stars" of the Sea Monsters Unearthed! exhibit, as well as hundreds of other critters.

Karen's 3D workflow allows her clients to carefully review and participate in the development of ancient animals, plants and environments, including the ability to review and rotate animals in 3D to assure absolute accuracy in proportion, scale and form.

Once the animals are modeled and approved, Karen skillfully blends them into murals, graphics, animations and physical 3D items, to help tell the story her clients are presenting.

These animals are shown proportionally to their life size: The elasmosaurid Cardiocorax was up to 8 meters in length, and Prognathodon kianda was nearly as big. The ancient South Atlantic really was home to sea monsters!

Karen in the classroom

— As a guest speaker or lecturer

In addition to the time she spends painting, Karen finds time now and again to serve as a guest speaker, lecturer and instructor to museum groups, professional organizations, schools and universities. She has also presented master classes in art and digital painting at universities in the U.S.

Karen has delivered recent presentations for these institutions and groups:

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Southern Methodist University

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators at the College of William & Mary and at Montana State University

New Mexico Highlands University

University of Texas at Arlington

University of North Texas

Dallas Paleontological Society

Originally trained in the classical techniques of illustration and painting, Karen frequently speaks on the transition to a digital world, and on the challenges and benefits this transition poses for artists, clients and viewers. She conducts professional seminars on painting, illustration and digital image creation, and also offers specific programs tailored to the needs of professional groups or classroom instructors.

To contact Karen about a speaking engagement, just drop her a note or call her studio.